Apparatus for vulcanizing articles



NOV. 20, IBLQUNT ETAL APPARATUS FOR VULCANIZING ARTICLES Filed Dec. 27, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENQTORI H. BLOU/VT FA. COLD HOFF A TTOR/VEV Nov. 20, 1945.. H. BLOUNT EI'AL APPARATUS FOR VULCANIZING ARTICLES 2 Sheet-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 2'7, 1945 WW Wm e .H

F. A. COLDEHOFF A T TORNEV Patented Nov. 20, 1945 APPARATUS FOR VULCANIZING ARTICLES Harry Blount, Baltimore, and Ferdinand A. Coldchoif, Dundalk, Md., assignors to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application December 27, 1943, Serial No. 515,750

3 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for vulcanizing articles, and more particularly to apparatus for vulcanizing a seal about one or more conductors within a metallic tube.

In the manufacture of certain types of connectors it is necessary to seal in the connectors one or more conductors passing therethrough. In such operations, a plurality of, unvulcanized, vulcanizable discs may be fitted into a tube forming a portion of a connector about the conductor or conductors positioned therein, pressed tightly against the tube and vulcanized to the tube and the conductors. With apparatus heretofore known, the above mentioned procedure has been time-consuming and costly.

An object of the.invention is to provide new and improved vulcanizing apparatus.

One device embodying the invention comprises an annular member having a plurality of sockets therein for receiving metallic tubes and for positioning conductors within the tubes, a chamber surrounding the outer and inner sides and bottom of the annular member,means for selectively introducing steam and water into the chamber, a-

plurality of plungers for engaging masses of rubber positioned within the tubes, 9. resiliently mounted plate carried by each of the plungers for engaging and positioning the conductors within the tubes, and either an hydraulically or a pneumatically actuated member for exerting pressure upon the plungers.

The above outlined and other objects and features of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of a specific embodiment of the invention, when read in conjunction with the appended drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus embodying the invention, with portions thereof broken away;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the apparatus taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view 01 a portion of the apparatus;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the apparatus with portions thereof broken away;

- Fig. 5 is an enlarged side elevation of an article formed by the apparatus;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged end elevation of the article shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged side elevation of a portion of the apparatus;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged end elevation of the portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. "I;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the article shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged end elevation of a portion of the apparatus, and

Fig. 11 learn enlarged side elevation of the portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 10.

Referring now to the drawings, in which like parts are designated by like numerals throughout the, several views, each of a plurality of connectors 20-20 (Figs. 4, 5 and 6) comprises a brass or brass-plated tube 2| having a flange 22 formed 'thereon. ,The tube 2! may be of any material upon which a suitable finish which is adherent to rubber has been applied. In an early state in the manufacture of the completed connectors, a plurality of unvulcanized discs 24-24 (Figs. 5 and 9) having apertures 26-26 formed therein, a plurality of partially vulcanized discs 21-21 having apertures 28-28 formed therein, and a plurality of :brass or brass-plated electrical conductors 30-30 extending through the apertures 26-20 and 28-28 are introduced into each tube 2|. The conductors 30-30 may be plated with any suitable rubber adherent finish. To render the connector fluid and gas tight, the discs 24-24 are pressed tightly against the tube 2|. and around the electrical conductors 30-30 and vulcanized.

A vulcanizing press 3! (Fig. 1) for sealing the discs24-24 to the tubes 2l2| and the electrical conductors 30-30 includes an annular block 32 (Figs. 1 and 2) secured to a work table 35 and extending through an aperture 38 formed in the work table. The block 32 is provided with a hollow cylindrical core 31 and a hollow annular ring 39 connected concentrically with the core by webs l0 and II.

A chamber 42 (Fig. 2), formed by the webs and II, the hollow cylindrical core 31- and the hollow annular ring 33, is connected by apertures 45-45 formed in the .walls of the core and the ring to chambers 48 and 41 formed in the core and the ring, respectively. An inlet pipe 49 is threaded into a nipple 50 formed on the web 4| and the end of a drain pipe 5i is threaded into a nipple 52 formed in the web 4|. A blowoif pipe 55 extends through an aperture 56 formed in the bottom of the core 31 with the upper end thereof projecting into the chamber 45 and a second blowoif pipe 51 extends through an opening 59 formed in the ring 33. The open upper ends of the blowofl pipes 55 and 51 are positioned in the uppermost portions of the chambers 46 and 41.

The inlet pipe 49 is connected to a conventional three-way. two-port valve 60 (Fig. 1') which is (not shown) by a pipe '02.

pressure of exhaust pipe 00, or

' a pipe I0, which is 2; connected to a suitable source of steam (not shown) by a pipe I and to a source of cold water The valve may be to the inlet pipe 09, t0

operated to supply steam or to shut off the inlet p ly cold water thereto,

also connected to a for indicating the the steam passing therethroush; The drain pipe Ii is connected to a three-way, two-port valve 00 of a well known type, which valve is connected to a steam exhaust pipe 01 and a water exhaust pipe operated to connect the outlet pipe II with only the steam exhaust pipe 01, with only the water with neither, as desired. The blowoif pipes 00 and 01 are connected to connected to a standard valve II, and to a thermometer 12 of a well known type. The valve Il may be actuatedto connect the pipe I0 with an exhaust pipe is when either steam or water is supplied to the chambers l2,

l0 and 41 so that any air or steam-contained in the chambers 42, 00 and 41 may be forced out of those chambers through the blowoif pipes 90 and 01. Since the upper ends of blowoif pipes 00 and 01 are positioned in the upp r p rtions of the chambers '40 and 01, the air or steam in the chambers which isv forced upwardly by the steam or the water will pass through the biowofl pipes and will not be entrapp d in the upper portions of the chambers. After the air or steam has been forced from the chambers by the incoming steam or water, respectively, the valve Ii is turned off to stop any flow of the water or the the exhaust pipe 15.

therethrough are welded to the annular block 02 at spaced points around the periphery thereof.

A plurality of standards 19-19 extending through the bores and secured therein by nuts such as a nut 90 (Fig. 2) threaded thereon serve to support an hydraulic or a pneumatic cylinder ll of a conventional design. A ram 92 is secured to a piston (not shown) enclosed in the cylinder 0! and has a platen 02 secured to the lower end thereof. A pair of pipes 05 and 99 connect the upper and the lower portions, respectively. of the cylinder 9! with a four-way valve 91 of a conventional design. A supply pipe 99 from a suitable pressure source (not shown) of hydraulic fluid connects the valve 81 with the outlet of that source and an exhaust pipe 90 is also connected to the valve 01. The valve 01 may be actuated to connect the supply pipe 90 with the pipe 90 to supply the hydraulic fluid to the upper portion of the cylinder 0|, and, simultaneously, to connect the pipe 90 with the exhaust pipe 90 to permit the hydraulic fluid contained in the lower portion of the cylinder 0| to be forced therefrom. Thus, the piston, the ramand the platen 02 may be forced toward the annular block 02. To return the platen 00 to its raised position, as shown in Fig. 1, the valve 01 is actuated in such a manner that the supply pipe 00 is connected with the pipe 00 and-the exhause pipe 90 is connected with the pipe 00. After the platen 02 has been raised, the valve 01 may then be turned to its neutral position in which the supply pipe 09, the exhaust pipe 90 and the pipes 28 and 00 are each closed off from any of the other pipes whereby the platen 02 will be retained in its upper position by the hydraulic either the steam or the water sup- 00. The valve 00 may be under pressure fluid contained in the lower portion of the cylinder II.

A bottom ring 0i (Figs. 2, 3 and 4) has a plurality of spaced apertures 02-02 formed therethrough and is adapted to fit into an annular cavity 90 formed by the core 01 and the ring 29.

A plurality of metallic inserts 90-90 having flanges 99-99 formed thereon, and also provided with a plurality of bores 91- 91 formed therein, fit into the apertures 92-92. The flanges 90-90 are of such a size that each flts into the tube 2| of one of the connectors 20-20 in which the unvulcanized discs 20-24, the partially vulcanized discs 21-21 and the conductors 30-20 have been assembled when the connectors are positioned thereover and the bores 01-91 are so spaced that the conductors 20-20 enter those bores when the connectors 20-20 are positioned over the metallic inserts 95-90. After the inserts and the connectors are thus positioned, an intermediate copper ring 99, which fits into the cavity 92 with a minimum of clearance and has a plurality of apertures l00-i00 formed therethrough, may be placed over the connectors 20-20, which flt into the apertures i00-l00 with a minimum of clearance, and rests upon the flanges 22-22 of the tubes 2i-2l. A plurality of hollow plungers i0i-l0i having external diameters of a slightly smaller size than the internal diameters of the tubes 2i-2i are then placed over the upper ends of the conductors slightly into the tubes 2 l-2 l. A plurality of discs il2-l02 rest on the upper ends of conductors 00-80 and are pressed thereby against a plurality of compression springs its-I05. The compression springs l05-l00 are engaged by a plurality of plugs l09-i00 threaded into the upper ends of the hollow plungers i0i-i0l. To complete the assembling step just described a. top ring I01 of the same size as the bottom ring BI is placed over theupper portions of the hollow plungers i0l-l0l which extend through a plurality of apertures l00-l09 formed in the ring I01. The top ring I01 rests upon a plurality of flanges ll0-l i0 which are formed on the hollow plungers l0i-l0l near the central portions thereof. The ring 99 is composed of copper or similar metal having a high coeflicient of conductivity of heat and surrounds the connectors 20-20 with a minimum of clearance and is surrounded closely by the walls of the cavity 93 with a minimum of clearance therebetween.

when the rings 9i. 99 and I0! are positioned as just described, a plurality of apertures ill- Ill formed in the intermediate and top rings '99 and I0'| are aligned with a plurality of threaded bores (not shown) formed in the bottom ring 9!. A pair of T-shaped handles I l2- H2 (Fig. 4) whose ends are threaded are adapted 'to be screwed into the threaded bores formed in the bottom ring and thus may serve to carr the assembly just described when desired.

In the operation of the above-described apparatus, the rings 0!, 99 and I01, the inserts 05- -90, the hollow-plungers i0i-l0i and the preassembled connectors 20-20 are assembled as described hereinabove and the T-shaped handles 'li2-li2 are screwed into the threaded bores formed in the bottom ring 9i. The T-shaped 7 handles are then grasped and the entire assem- 30-30 and extend conductive of heat and is heated by the 'walls of pipe 90 with the pipe 86. This permits the hydraulic fluid under pressure to flow into the upper portion of the cylinder 8|. thereby forcing the piston therein downwardly, and forcing the platen 83 against the upper ends of the hollow plungers ll-l0l to force the plungers against the partially vulcanized discs 21-21.

The partially vulcanized discs 21-21 are thereby pressed against the unvulcanized discs 24-24 and compress these discs against the sides of the tubes 2i-2l, closely around the conductors 30-30, and against the partially vulcanized discs 21-21 which are supported by the inserts 95-95. The compression springs l'05-I05 are compressed by the conductors 30-30 against which the discs I 02-102 abut, and the conductors are urged thereby into the bottoms of the bores 91-91.

The valve 60 is then actuated in such a manner that steam may flow into the chamber 42, through the apertures 45-45, into the chambers 46 and 41 and into the drain pipe The steam at this time also enters the blowoif pipes 55 and 51 and its temperature is registered by the thermometer 12. After a short period of time the valve 11 is actuated to close the pipe from the exhaust pipe 15. The steam passing into the chambers 42, 46 and 41. heats the walls of the core 31 and the ring 39 and the heat is conducted through the copper ring 99, to heat the tubes 2I-2l and thereby heat the unvulcanized discs 24-24 positioned therein. The heat applied to the discs, together with the pressure placed upon the unvulcanized discs, serves to vulcanize the unvulcanized discs and'to seal them to the brass or brassplated tubes 2 l-2I and the brass or brass-plated conductors 30-30. The connectors 20-20 fit quite closely into the apertures l00-l00 and the copper ring 99 very eifectively conducts heat from the walls of the cavity 93.

After the unvulcanized discs 24-24 have been vulcanized sufliciently and bonded to the brass or brass-plated tubes 2l-2l and the brass or brass-plated electrical conductors 30-30, the

' valve 60 is actuated to cut ofi the inlet pipe 49 from the pipe 6| and connect the inlet pipe 49 with the pipe 62 to supply cold Water to. the chambers 42, 46 and 41 and to the drain pipe 5|. The valve 1 I is actuated at this time to open the pipe 10 to the pipe to permit the steam in the chambers to be forced therefrom. The cold water flowing through the chambers 42, 46 and 41 rapidly cools the apparatus and the connectors, and after a sufficient period of time, the valve 81 is actuated to raise the platen 83 to the position shown in Fig. l and the valve 60 is then actuated to stop the flow of both the. cold water and the steam.

The T-shaped handles ll2-Il2 are then inserted through the apertures Ill-ill and are threaded into the threaded bores formed in the bottom ring 9|, and the rings 9|, 99 and I01 and the elements contained thereby are lifted from the annular block 32 and are placed upon the work table 35 where theymay be disassembled. After the disassembling has been completed, the operation just described may be repeated to seal another set of connectors similar to the connectors -20.

During the operation of the apparatus described hereinabove, the connectors 20-20 are closely contained in the ring 99, which isv highly the cavity 93 into which the ring 99 fits with a minimum of clearance, and thus the connectors are heated rapidly, and uniformly. Consequently, all of the unvulcanized discs 24-24 may be very rapidly and efliciently vulcanized. Likewise, when cold water is supplied to the chambers 42, 46 and 41, the water rapidly cools the apparatus and the connectors 20-20. Thus, the apparatus vulcanizes and cools the connectors in very short periods of time.

What is claimed is:

1. In a press for forming pressure-tight, rubber seals about conductors positioned in metal tubes, an annular member having a plurality of sockets formed therein for receiving a plurality of such tubes, means for positioning a plurality of conductors within a plurality of tubes retained in said sockets, a block having a cavity formed therein for receiving the annular member and also being provided with a chamber formed therein, and means for supplying a vulcanizing medium to said chamber.

2. In a vulcanizing press, a, block having a core portion and an annular portion positioned in concentric relationship and, also provided with a bottom portion forming with the core and the annular portions an opemannular cavity, each of said portions having a chamber formed therein and connected with the chambers formed in other portions, a supply pipe leading to one of said chambers, means for selectively supplying hot steam to the supply pipe, means for selectively supplying cold water to the supply pipe, an exhaust pipe, means for exhausting stem or water from the exhaust pipe, a plurality of annular rings having a plurality of aligned sockets formed therein, a plurality of inserts fitting into the sockets formed in one of the rings, a plurality of tubes adapted to fit into the sockets in another of said rings, another of said rings being formed of copper and adapted to closely retain in the sockets formed therein a plurality of metallic tubes containing a plurality of unvulcanized rubber discs and a plurality of conductors extending through the discs, a plurality of discs positioned in said first mentioned tubes, a plurality of springs for urging the discs against the ends of said conductors, a ram, a platen attached to said ram, and hydraulic means for forcing said platen against the upper ends of said first mentioned tubes to force said tubes against a plurality of unvulcanized rubber discs contained in a plurality of metallic tubes held in the sockets formed in said second mentioned ring to compress said unvulcanized rubber discs.

3. In a vulcanizing press, a block having an open, annular cavity formed therein: and also provided witha chamber surrounding the annular cavity, means for supplying a vulcanizing medium to the chamber, a plurality of annular rings having a plurality of aligned sockets for retaining a plurality of tubes containing masses of vulcanizable material and fitting into the cavity with a minimum of clearance, a plurality of plungers for engaging the masses of vulcanizable material of tubes retained by the rings, and means for pressing the plungers to apply pressure to the masses of vulcanizable material.

HARRY BLOUNT. FERDINAND A. COLDEHOFF. 

